Nonoverfill device



Nov. l0, 1942. l H. H. sULLlNs 2,301,474

NONOVERFILL DEVICE Filed sept. 22, 19:59 2 sheets-sheet 1 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEY/ Nov. l0, 1942. H. H.. sULLlNs 2,30,474

NONOVERFILL DEVICE Filed sepi. 22, 1959 2 sheets-sheet 2 70 mvENToR Patented Nov. 10, 1942 Howard H. Sullins, Detroit, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application'september 22, 1939, Serial No. 296,047 Claims. (Cl. 13G- 178) This invention Arelates to non-overiill devices for storage batteries.

It is an object of the invention to simplify the construction of battery non-overll devices with the ob-ject of providing adevice that can be manufactured economically and will be reliable inv operation. In this connection it is more particularly of the invention to provide a construction which can be made of molded rubberV parts.

These and other objects of the present invention are obtainable by a construction comprising` two screw threaded sleeves, one fixed to the cover and the other rotatable with reference to the cover. These sleeves provide a filler passage thru which the electrolyte liquid may be poured into the cell. One of the sleeves provides a skirt extending at least to the proper liquid level in the cell to provide a wall between the filler plug and an air trapping space within the cell exterior to the skirt or wall and between the cover and the electrolyte, One of Ythese sleeves provides a by-pass between the filler plug and the air trapping space. The rotatable sleeve cooperates with the fixed sleeve to open or clo`se the by-pass. screw threads engages the cell cover to close the ller passage and couples itself automatically with the rotatable sleeve when the plug is applied tothe cover. When lthe plug is screwed down to closethe ller opening the rotatable sleeve is threaded along the fixed sleeve to cause the passage to be open so that the air trapping space will be vented. When the plug is screwed in the opposite direction to remove it from the cover the` rotatable sleeve is screwed in such a manner to cause the passage to be closed so that air will be trapped in the air trapping space in order to limit the amount of electrolyte which can be poured into the cell.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view through A Vented ller plug, provided with.

Fig, 4 is a side elevation of the part shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan'view of another part shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification of the present invention showing the partsV of the device in the open position.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 with the parts of device shown in closed position.

Fig. 8 is a view showing the parts of Fig. 1 disc assembled.

Figs. 9 and 10 are views looking in the direction of arrows 9 and IEI respectively of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings 29 designates a fragl ment of a cover for a storage battery cell or container which incloses plates or elements, a fragment of one of the plates is designated by the numeral 2|. 22 represents the electrolyte and the level of the electrolyte is shown at approximately the desired height 22a.

Referring to Fig. 1, the cover is preferably formed with a downwardly depending skirt or sleeve 23 to provide a filling opening 24. The sleeve in this instance is internally threaded as at 25 and the lower edge or plane of the sleeve is preferably smooth so as to provide a seat 2G. The lower threaded lportion of the sleeve 23 is adapted to receive a movable hollow member or sleeve" 39 having a reduced threaded portion 3| of hard rubber and an Vannular flange portion 33 J of soft rubberto form a shoulder adapted to engage the seat 26 and form a seal when same engages the seat. The threaded reduced portion 3| of the sleeve 39 is provided with vent opening 32 which is adapted to be covered and closed by the internal threads 25 in the sleeve 23 when the movable sleeve 30 is moved axially upward by a vented filler plugor cap 35.

yThe vvented filler plug has a head 36 and reduced threaded sleeve portion 31 provided with recesses 38 adapted to receive tongues or lugs 39 provided on the upper edge of the reduced threaded portion 3l of the movable sleeve 3B. The lugs 39 and recess 38 operate as a clutch device when the vent plug is screwed into or out of the sleeve 23. When it is desired to replenish liquid into the cell, so as to raise the liquid in the cell to the predetermined level 22a. the vent plug 35 is unscrewed,the recesses 38 of the plug and the lugs 39 of sleeve 30 operate as a clutch device to turn the sleeve 39 and cause it to move upwardly until the soft rubber radial ange 33 of the sleeve 30 bears against the flat surface 26 forming a seal. When this happens the vent 55 opening 32 will be entirely covered. by the threads 25 to form a second seal. Under these conditions water or fluid may be introduced through the sleeves 23 and 3E] until the fluid level rises and seals off the through opening in the sleeve 35 as shown in Fig. 2. Air will be trapped in the space 5 surrounding the exterior of the sleeve between the liquid and the bottom of the cover Whereupon excess liquid will rise in the sleeve 30 to prevent the cell from being filled too full of liquid. When the operator notices the uid rising in the sleeve he stops his lling Operation.

The vented filler plug is then positioned over the sleeve 30 so that the recesses 38 will be placed over the lugs 39. When the plug 35 is threaded into the sleeve 23 the clutch arrangement between 15 through the sleeves 23 and 3D to allow gases ac- 25 cumulating above the surface of the electrolyte When this occurs the vent openings 20 when the battery is in operation to pass through the vented plug 35.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 to 10 in- I elusive the cover 20 in this instance is provided 30 with a downwardly depending sleeve to provide a, filling opening. It will be observed that the sleeve 50 is of step formation having a righthanded threaded portion 5I near the top, a reduced left-handed threaded portion 52, a comcal 35 seat 53 extending from the portion 52 which merges into a straight tubular portion 54 at the lower end of the depending sleeve. The conical seat 53 is provided with vent openings 55 in order that air and gases may pass from the space Sur- 40 rounding the outer circumference of the sleeve 50. A sleeve 55 having left-handed threads on the` exterior surface thereof is supported within the left-handed threaded portion 52 of the sleeve 5U: This sleeve is provided with a conical valve 5l 'g5 on its bottom side that is complementary to the conical seat 53. The upper edge of the sleeve 55 is formed with radial extending recesses 58.

A vented filler plug 65 is formed with a head 'l portion 6I and a right-handed threaded portion 50 62 which has lugs or projections 63 depending therefrom. The lugs 63 are adapted to t into the recesses 58 of the sleeve to form a clutch device for moving the sleeve 56 axially in either the proper level. After the cell is filled the vent plug 60 is positioned over filling opening with the lugs 63 registering with the recesses 58 and the plug is screwed into the threaded portion 5l with the result that the lugs will turn the sleeve 56 and cause it to move upwardly from the conical seat 53 and return the sleeve to its normal position as shown in Fig. 7 causing the vent opening 55 to be uncovered permitting air or gases, which rises to the top of the cell, to pass through the openings and the space between the conical seat 53 and valve 51 and then out through the center of the sleeve 55 and the vented plug 6l).

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A storage battery non-overll device comprising the combination of a cover for a battery cell having a threaded ller opening therethrough, a, skirt formed integral with the cover and surrounding the filler opening, said skirt depending from the top wall of the cover and eX- tending to the desired level of electrolyte within the cell when the cover is in place, the upper part of the skirt being formed with right and left hand threaded sections and the lower part of the skirt being reduced to provide a conical seat, there being a, vent passage connecting a space exterior of the skirt and under the top wall of the cover and i" leading to the conical seat; a sleeve having screw threaded engagement with the left-hand threaded section of the skirt and movable in a vertical direction between upper and lower positions, said sleeve having a conical surface thereon for engagement with the seat to provide an air tight joint between the sleeve and the skirt, a vent cap having screw-threaded engagement with the right-hand threaded section for closing the filler opening and having means engageable with the sleeve to turn the sleeve to move it upwardly when the cap is screwed into the filler opening, said means acting to turn the sleeve downwardly when the cap is unscrewed to open the ller opening until the conical surface thereon firmly grips the seat to seal positively the vent passage.

2. A storage battery non-overll device comprising in combination; a cover for a battery cell having a, filler opening formed with right-hand threads; a skirt formed integral with the cover direction within the sleeve portion 5D. 55

When it is desired to replenish liquid to the cell, so as to raise the liquid in the cell to a predetermined level the vented plug 60 is unscrewed in one direction the lugs 63, which extend a considerable distance into the recesses 58, will rotate the sleeve 56 in the opposite direction until the annular conical valve 5l bears firmly against the conical seat 53 of the sleeve 50. When this happens the vent opening 55 will be closed. As the cell is replenished with liquid, the displaced air 65 Thus the cell cannot be filled above and surrounding the filler opening, said skirt depending from the top wall of the cover and extending to a desired level of electrolyte within the cell when the cover is in place; the skirt being formed with inner left-hand threads of lesser cross dimensions than the right-hand thread of the i'lller opening and having an annular conical seat within the skirt and located below the lefthand threads, there being a by-pass connecting a space exterior of the skirt and under the cover and leading to the seat for venting gases; a movable sleeve having exterior threads for engagement with the left-hand threads of the skirt and having a conical surface for engagement with the seat to provide an air tight joint between the conical surfaces of the sleeve and skirt to close the by-pass; a vent cap for closing the ller opening having exterior right-hand threads for engagement with the threads therein, said plug and sleeve having a separable coupling connection therebetween whereby when the plug is screwed into the filler opening to close same the sleeve will rotate and move vertically upward within the skirt to open the by-pass and when the plug is unscrewed from the filler opening the sleeve will move vertically downward to cause the conical surface of the sleeve to engage rmly with the seat and positively seal the by-pass.

3. In a cell cover the combination of a body having a filler opening; a hollow tubular member carried by the cover and depending from the cover around the iller opening, said hollow member being progressively reduced to provide an upper portion formed with inner right-hand threadsy a reduced intermediate portion formed with inner left-hand threads and a further reduced tube-like portion of lesser periphery than the intermediate portion formed with a conical seat within the hollow member and below the left-hand threads, the lower end of the tubelike portion determining the proper electrolyte level; a by-pass provided through the seat and communicating with a space exterior the hollow member and under the cover for venting gases; a movable sleeve having exterior threads for engagement with the left hand threads and having a conical surface for engagement with the f seat to close the by-pass; and a vented plug for closing the ller opening and having exterior threads for engagement with the right-hand threads, said plug and sleeve having interengaging means for rotating the sleeve, said means operating to turn the sleeve in one direction to lift the sleeve from the seat to open the by-pass when the plug is attached to the cover and operating to turn the sleeve in the opposite direction and lower the sleeve rmly against the seat to close the by-pass when the plug is removed from the cover.

4. A cover assembly for a container containing electrolyte comprising, a cover having a threaded filler opening; a skirt carried by the cover about the iiller opening and projecting below the cover, the lower end of the skirt determining a normal electrolyte level, said skirt having a conical seat intermediate its ends; a vent opening through the seat and connecting the space interior the skirt with a space under the cover above the normal electrolyte exterior the skirt for ventinggases; a threaded valve member having screw threaded engagement with a threaded portion of the skirt and having a conical surface for engagement with seat to close the vent opening; a threaded vent cap adapted to be screwed fully into the filler opening, the threads of the ller opening being of a different pitch inclination than the threaded portion of the skirt cooperating with the valve, the threads of the ller opening and the threads of the skirt being such that when the cap is turned in one direction the valve is turned in the opposite direction, said cap and valve having detachable interengaging means to turn the valve, said means being dimensioned so that when the valve is rmly against the seat to close positively the Vent opening the interengaging means will be free to permit removal of the vent cap.

5. A cell cover construction for storage battery containers comprising two screw threaded intertting sleeves providing a ller opening through which liquid may be poured into a cell, the outer sleeve being integral with the cover and surrounding the filler opening and having inner right and left hand threaded portions, the lower end of the outer sleeve determining the proper liquid level, said outer sleeve being reduc-ed intermediate its ends to provide a conical seat, there being a by-pass connecting the space exterior of the skirt and under the top wall of the cover and leading to the conical seat, said inner sleeve having left hand threads to register with the left hand threads of the outer sleeve and having a conical surface corresponding to the conical surface of the seat for engagement with the seat to close the by-pass; a vented plug for closing the filler opening, said plug having right hand threads cooperating with the right hand threads of the outer sleeve, said plug and inner sleeve having interengaging means for turning the inner sleeve and for raising the inner sleeve from the seat to open the by-pass when the plug is threaded to th-e cover and to lower the inner sleeve downwardly until the conical surface thereon rmly engages the seat to close positively the by-pass when the plug is threadedly removed from the cover.

HOWARD H. SULLINS. 

